HNAK0004EU Theory and Method in Near Eastern Archaeology

Volume 2018/2019
Education

Curriculum for the Master’s Programmes in Ancient and Medieval Near Eastern Studies, 2008

Content

The course deals with the important theoretical approaches and methods developed in archaeology and related topics. These theories are studied by reading relevant texts and discussing their use in archaeology.

The course starts with an overview of evolutionism, cultural particularism, diffusionism etc., but concentrates more on the 20th/21st cent. approaches such as ethnoarchaeology, post-structuralism, agency, materiality etc. Topics will be between others economic and social explanations in archaeology, interpretations of figurines, typologies etc.

Learning Outcome

KA 2008-studieordning:
Theory and Method in Near Eastern Archaeology (fagelementkode HNAK03211E)

Theory and Practice of Archaeology (fagelementkode HNAK03261E)

Literature

B.G. Trigger: A History of Archaeological Thought;  J. A. Bell: Reconstructing Prehistory (1994), chapter 4-7;  R. Bernbeck: Theorien in der Archäologie (1997). These texts are the base for the entire course and need to be read for the first classes. More material follows through the semester

Ability to read English and German texts
Each class starts with a general introduction, followed by presentations of and discussions with the students. The students have to study different texts for each class and have to present some texts during the course.
Part of the course will allow students to practice archaeological methods such as typology, taphonomy etc. This will be achieved in small projects parallel to the classes.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 75
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Practical exercises
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 225
  • Project work
  • 56,5
  • Total
  • 412,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment